Connecting plate



H. E. W ENDELL commune PLATE- Filed Feb. 23, 1929' Feb. 3, 1931. y

3 Sheets -Shoot. J

INVENTOR HEPMI/V 5 WENDELL BY 9a ATTORNEY 4 Feb. 3, 1931. H. wENbELL CONNECTING PLATE,

Filed Feb. 23, 1929 3 Shoots-Sheet 3 INVENT HEPMJ/V E. IVE/V ELL ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE HERMAN E.

WENDELL, OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR' TO STEEL-BOUND CONTAINER CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF FLORIDA CONNECTING PLATE Application filed February 23, 1929. Serial No. 342,137.

My present invention is concerned with means for and methods of connecting, assembling, and holding various materials and forms permanently, or separable, and relates more particularly to metal plates so cut and shaped as to provide means of this character which are of a novel, self-fastening type and dispense with nails or other fastening ele-' ments and which, in their generic aspect, may take the form of polygonal metal plates of variable proportions having fiat, angled, or reversely bent body portions.

Such connecting means are'intended for use with and effectively connect in various positions and manners, materials such as usually require the use of nails, brads, etc., as exemplified by wood panels, veneers, molding, ply-boards, gypsum, wood and fibre boards, and sheet material similar to cork, linoleum, rubber, etc. It is not feasible to use them where nails do not easily penetrate and they are therefore, notapplicable to heavy structural timbers, framing elements, etc.

Connecting plates with differing forms and fastening elements have heretofore been proposed, but as constituted,'they have lacked maximum efficiency through inadequate provision for attachment of the plates to their supports so as to distribute supporting strain to resist displacement by thrust or pressure laterally from different angles.

Furthermore, the fastening means as here- 7 tofore proposed or provided,"have been such asto prevent complete contact of plate and support, the fasteningtangs, therefore, not only securing inadequate anchorage, but

holding the plate out of complete contact with the surface to which it is attached.

Bymy invention, plates of this character may be applied to the material of attachment to seatuniformly thereon or thereagainst with the supporting means resisting strain and displacement from a diversity of angles and being of sucha nature as to ensure penetration without splintering or splitting of the material penetrated, and with the material engaged thereby at such vary ing angles; i

Accordingly, and generically stated, a feature of my invention consists in a polygonal metal plate, flat, angled, or reversely bent, having a plurality of pointed fastening tangs distributed about its edges, and bent out of the plane of the plate bodyon lines. of diverse angular relation into support entrant angles relatively to the, adjacent portion of the plate body. These points or tangs are so located and grouped and bent as such angles relatively to the plate body that there is provided therefor, an anchorage characterized by anchor elements penetrating the support and positioned therein at diverse angles opposing lateral pull or strain-on the plate from various angles. This diversity of angles not only affords such support, but permits cl-u s tering or concentration of such diversely angled points without spreading or splitting of the grains of wood, for example, because of such diverse angles. 'In other words, in no instance will the flat or broad face of a tang follow consecutively in line in any direction, and because of this, when-attached to any material having a grain, the flat face of no two consecutive tangs 'will 'follow a grain line.

A further feature of the invention consists 1n the use of a plurality of diversely angled tangs with tangs of different angles having different lengths and extents of penetration, the lengths of those tangs of the same angle being similar or substantially so.

By this provisiomthe plate may be preliminarily and evenly disposed relatively to the support when a second or shorter series of tangs begin to penetrate as the plate is driven onto its support. The preliminary starting of the longer or first set of tangs into the support material ensures that the shorter or second set of tangs is driven in at the proper angles, the diversity of angles tensioning the tan gs in the support material and substantially' increasing their holding power and resistance to displacement.

In the physical embodiment of the invention, I have provided, so far as the fastening tangs are concerned, various combinations and arrangements for varymg conditions in all of which diversity of support entrant angles occur. a

l have further provided a novel method of forming these tangs which is both economical of material and labor, which method, in a related aspect, produces novel groupings of diversely angled pointed fasteners or tangs.

An outstanding feature of the method common to all groups of fastenings, is the utilization of the edges of the polygonal plates as a side or point, or both, of the tangs, by slitting the plates from the edges inwardly at determinate angles as will be fully e plained hereinafter.

A particular example providing maximum eliiciency is a corner group 'of' fastenings formed by slitting the corner, extremity at the junction of two sides of a polygonal plate inwardly from the edge extremity of the plate, and at determinate divergent angles providing a plurality of tangs bent on lines of diversely angular relation, and of at least, two divergent angles of support entry, and preferably, although not necessarily, two dilferent lengths. Such corner groups of fastening tangs may be augmented, where the strain to which the plate connection is to be subjected justifies, by what I may term, side edge groups, the individual tangs of which are bent on lines extending inwardly from the plate edge at angles locating the broad faces of the tangs in the engaged n'iatc rial at angles opposing lateral dislocation.

The tangs or groups of tanp's are bent either up or down from the face or the body of the plate. In many cases where a. platejis to he used for connecting two overlapped or over laid surfaces, two oppositely extending groups or tangs will be used. The wide field of use for such plates makes it impractical to illustrate in the accompanying drawings the manifold applications of the invention to practical use. It may be stated however, that the angled forms of plate ar used generally for corner bracing purpo or for cooperation with-another plate to form a netachable support. The reversely bent form of plate provides.channels l 1 may he eooperated with other forms of plates, for instance, an angled plate, to act as guide or sup port.

In the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, the invention is exemphlied and phases of its application are llustrated. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a flat rectangular plate orbody unit having its corners slit for the formation of corner groups of fastening tangs of one type, thelines and angle of bend of said tangs being indicated by dotted lines, with supplementing side groups of tangs 1ndicated.

Figure 2 is a side elevationof said plate group of the three basic forms of connect ing plate to which the invention is applicable.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a flat rectangular plate having its corners slit for the formation of corner groups of fastening tangs of another type, the lines of bend for the tangs being indicated by dotted lines, and a d fferent arrangement of supplementary side tangs being also dotted.

Figure 5 is an edge elevation of the plate withcorner groupsof tangs bent upwardly to the proper support entrant angle.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a plate showing a further different form of corner groups or tangs.

Figure 7 is an edge elevation thereof with the tangs bent up.

Figure 8 is a plan View of an angled connecting plate having one of the previously shown forms of corner tang groups with supplementaing side tangs as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is an elge elevation thereof with the tangs bent downwardly.

Figure 10 is a view showing the use of bent and angled connecting plates in cooperation as shelf hangers.

Figure 11 is a view of a connecting plate with opposed reversely directed tangs used to connect with concealed junction molding and furring strips.

Figure 12 is a view illustrating the use of coacting angled connecting plates for corner bracing.

Figure 13 is a plan view of connecting plate in the form of a strip with tangs formed thereon in. accordance with the present invention.

Figure lt is a plan view of overlapped rectangular connecting plates with reversely facing tangs for concealed connections.

Figure 15 is a view illustrating such plates applied to connect sheathing and wall board.

As I have previously stated, the connecting plates of the present invention may be of varied proportions, shapes and outlines, and l have designated the generic plates whether they be triangular or octangular as polygonal. For the purposes of illustration, a rectangular plate unit is shown, this plate unit having its body portion flat or in the same plane, or as indicated at A in Figure 3', being bent, the flat, angled, and bent forms illustrated in this figure of the drawings representing, generically, but not inclusively, the different type of Jlates available for use.

These plates, whatever their form, are made into connecting plates by slitting their edges inwardly at a determinate angle, and thereafter bending the triangular portions formed by the slits with the adjacent edge upwardly or downwardly from the plane of the plate body into support entrant angles, these tang portions being bent on lines in diverse angular relation. As shown, the line of bend Ill) is predicated upon a line constituting a perpendicular to the line of slit.

The principal points at which the fastening tangs are provided are available corner 6X1 tremities of the polygonal plates 1, supplemented'where the size and character of the work requires, by supplementing tangs at intermediate points between the corners. A variety of corner tang groups embodying common underlying features is contemplated. One form which this corner group may take is formed b slitting the corner extremityinwardly at diverging angles as indicated at 2, 3, in Figure 1 of the drawings. These slits, in a preferred form determinedby experimentation, forman approximate angle of 26 with the adjacent side edges of the plate. The slits 2 and 3 subdivide the corner of the plate into three triangular portions, theouter ones of which are triangles of similar angularity, with the central tang portion 4 having sides forming an angle of approximately 38, or the difference between the form of the side tangs and a 90 angle where the corners of the plate are formed by sides joining at an angle of 90. The line of bend of the outer corner tangs which are designated by the numerals 5 and 6 is a perpendicular to the line of slits 2 and 3 as suggested by the dotted lines 7 in Figure 1. These slits are preferably of the same length so that the tangs 5 and 6 will be of similar length. The intermediate tang portions 4, however, are bent on lines forming intermediate tangs shorter than the side tangs 5 and 6. These intermediate tangs 4, I prefer to bend out of the plane of the plate body 1 into a support entrant angles which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate. The adjacent side tangs 5 and 6 are of a length which I prefer to bend out of the plane of the plate body into support" entrant angles which extend beyond the per pendicular and incline toward a perpendicular extending from the center of the plane of the plate. body. The lines of bend of the tangs,'4, 5 and 6 are, as will be clearly seen froman inspection of Figure 1 and also Figure 2, of diverse angular relation, no two con secutive lines being parallel. This diverse angularity at which the broad faces of the tangs will penetrate the engaged material not only is instrumental in preventing splitting of grained material, but offers resistance to displacement of the plate, when attached, along diversified lines of lateral strain. The different lengths of the intermediate tangs 4 and of the edge tangs 5 and 6 will permit an initial placement of the plate in the support material through the partial penetration of the side corner tangs 5 and 6. This will facilitate the drivingof tangs'4 into the material at the proper angle by per ttlng the points of these tangs to be uniformly brought into contact with the surfaceof the material before being driven. Not only does this diversity of the support entrant angle have this advantage, but the diversity of the angularity increases the hold of the plate through the material and retains'it against strains tending to pull the plate away from the underlying face of the material as contrasted with lateral strains offset by the diversity of the angular relation of the broad faces of the imb edded tangs.

Where the plates are of sufiicient size and the strain imparted is substantial, the support afforded by the corner groups of tangs may be supplemented by intermediate tangs or groups of tangs, one form of which is indicated by dot and dash lines inldigure 1 of the drawings and is designated by the numeral 8. These tangs are fun. edby slitting the edge or" the plate at a common point,

and in reverse directions from said point at angles with the adjacent side plates similar to those by means of which the tangs 5 and 6 are formed, the lines of bend being similarly based upon perpendiculars to the lines of slit. I

The form of corner groups may be varied as previously indicated, the second form being shown in Figures 4 and 5, in which only the side corner tangs 5 and 6 are bent at the described angles, the intermediate portions 4 remaining in the )lane of the body portion of the plate- Such a construction may be used where the support or connecting strain is less than is required by the first described form. As above suggested supplementing side tangs, shown by dot and dash lines in Figure 4, may also be used when desired, thes tangs being designated by the numerals 9 in said figures, and representing continuations of the lines of side tangs 5 or G, as the may be. The lines of bend of the corner tangs 5 and G are shown in Figures 4 and 5, and

likewise their diverse angularity, and where the supplementing tangs 9 are used, their lines of bend are also in diverse angular rela tion as suggested by the edge elevation of.

tangs 5 and 6. j

, The corner construction representing the third form embodies the combination of tangs of different lengths and angularity as in the first form and is shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings in which single side tangs 6 are employed Wit-h adjacent triangular tang portions 10 bent on a line at an angle to the line of bend for the tang 6 and, extending transversely of the corner to provide a shorter tang which, similarly to the tang 4 of the first form, is bent into a support entrant angle substantially perpendicular to the plane of thej'support-afforded by the corner groups of tang'S. may be supplemented byintermediate ta gs ll indicated by dot and dash lines in F ,re 6;, similarly to the first two forms of corner tang groups described.

Obviously, the plates may l ave component groups of tangs extending from opposite sides so that the plates may be used to interconnect two different members or parts as suggested by dotted lines in Figure 2, and as shown in the mounting of the molding on a furring strip in Figure 11.

In the case of angled plate A and bent plate ll, Fig. 3 (which includes the angled form), the corner extremities at the angle of bend are not available for the formation of tangs. In Figures 8 and 9 are shown respectively, a top plan view and an edge elevation of an angled plate in which the a ailable corner extremities are slit and bent downwardly as shown ano described in Figures 1 and 2, and in which the lack of tan i at the opposite corner extremities is compensated for by sup plemental side groups of tangs 8, similarly to those described in connection with Figures 1 and 2. This same supplementation or compensation will hold true in the case of the bent plates B, being suggested by dotted lines in Figure 9. The angled or bent plates may employ, obviously, any of the different corner groups of tangs or supplemental side tangs, those shown being illustrative and not restrictive.

As illustrative of the use of angled and bent plates, attention is called to Figure 10 of the drawings in which a bent plate 1?) is imbedded by its tangs in a suitable support, its reversely bent portion being lowermost and an angle plate 1a is secured to the underside of a transverse member, say a shelf, tobe supported, and angled portion of the plate 10. seating in the socket formed by the bent portion of the plate 1!), thereby aflt' rding a detachable supporting connection.

The connecting plates when it is desired to use them for interconnecting two parts. such as the molding 1L and fuming 13 of F' ire 11, may have consecutive groups of corner tangs reversely bent shown in Figure 11 and as suggested in Figure 2.

A similar function of interconnecting two parts, but with the parts out of contact may be secured by overlapping rectangular connecting plates having plain intermediate portions and corner groups of tangs, so that the tangs project in opposite directions, one set of tangs being imbedded in a support suen as the sheathing 1 of Figure 141:, and the oppositely projecting tangs forming the on g plate 1 being imbedded in the rear face wall board 15 when the latter is forced or concealed of driven thereon, thereby making a support.

The angled connecting plates may be used in a variety of ways, such for example, as

bracing corners, drawer divisions, etc. In Figure 12 of the drawings,l have shown two angled plates 1a with their angled portions overlapped at an inside corner formed by horizontal and vertical wooden members 16 17. The same arrangement is likewise applicable to outside corners. v

lVhile the connection plate heretofore describedhasbeenconsidered as a single plate, it may be logically developed and considered in strip formation as a'series of integrally connected plates. For example, in Figure 13, I show a strip fastener 18 having its end corners formed with tangs corresponding with the tangs 6 and 10 of Figures 6 and 7 (although either of the other forms of corner groups may be used), and with a series of spaced groups of side tangs 6 which may be supplemented as suggested in dotted lines by slitting the edge at right angles as suggested at 19, and forming pairs of supplementing tangs 20 similar to the tangs 10. As suggested by the drawings, these tangs will be in alinement at opposite sides of the strip 18, the dotted line 21 indicating an imaginary line marking the line of division between adjacent single alined connecting plates integrally united in strip formation.

The foregoing description indicates partially the development of underlying features of process and structure involved herein and which have been amplified so as to denote the scope of the inventive idea. The illustrations of the applications of the invention are in the sense of illustration only, and not of restriction.

Having described my invention, what i claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A metallic fastener comprising a flat polygonal metal plate having its marginal edges at a plurality of corner points provided with ii-shaped cuts therein extending inwardly from apices at its corner eth cs, with the marginal portions bordering said cuts at opposite sides of the apices of the i s bent inwardly on lines transverse to the side of the Vs to form securing tangs with painted penetrating ends extending outwardly from the plate with the faces of adjacent tangs extending in planes in angular relation to each other and substantially at right angles to the plane of the flat plate body.

2. A metallic fastener comprising a flat polygonal metal'plate having its marginal edges at a plurality of corners provided with inwardly extending V-shaped cuts with the apices of the PS coinciding with the corners of the plate, the marginal portions bordering said cuts at opposite sides of the apices of the We being bent inwardly on lines transverse to the sides of the Vs to form securing tangs with pointed ends extending outwardly from the plate with their faces in planes in angular relation to each other and substantially at right angles to the plane of the fiat vided With V-shaped cuts therein extending inwardly from apices at its corner edges, with the marginal portions bordering said cuts at opposite sides of their apices bent inwardly on lines transverse to the sides of the We to form securing tangs extending outwardly from the flat face'of the plate substantially at right angles thereto with the faces of adjacent tangs in planes in angular relation to each other, the marginal edges of said plate between said corner points and tangs being inwardly cut with marginal bordering portions bent inwardly to form tangs intermediate the corner tangs with faces'extending in planes in angular relation to those of said corner tangs.

HERMAN E. WENDELL. 

